Amanda and her daughter live a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother.
- Released: 2022-03-18
- Runtime: 83 minutes
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thrillers
- Stars: Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Dermot Mulroney, Odeya Rush, MeeWha Alana Lee, Tom Yi, Mark Kirksey
- Director: Iris K. Shim
Comments
- angelsemailuk - 15 January 2024
A Solid Movie - Subtle Nuances I Can Respect
I can't really find anything "wrong" with this movie. I agree with everyone else - it was not "moving" in any core memory remarkable way that lingers. Unless you have Mommy issues and you get a bit triggered.
I liked that when the movie ended - I didn't get that "2020s WTfrick did I just watch and why don't I feel a bit satisfied with this story ending?" *churn and burn* production feel. Meaning - so many Streamers are putting out frustratingly stitched together (unnecessary) 8 episodes that lead to no real Satisfaction in the Season's end. Or to this note - a quicky written and produced shell of a movie. That was NOT this movie. It had a solid beginning, middle, and end. That wrapped up the story well for all of Us.
One thing that subtly stood out for Me was the 2 Women Leads who were Charmingly Supported by the Male Lead. He was such a refreshing compliment to the Women and He (character and actor) simply 'let them shine" and be who they are without trying to "complete" them with outdated stereotypes. Actually I'm gonna go from a 6 to 7 for that subtle nuances appreciation for writing and acting that you just really haven't seen a lot of *ever*. Like when you watch a Tom Cruise movie - it's the Tom's World and We are Just living on the peripherals feel from acting to plausibility. None of that was in this show. And I'm here for it.
So perhaps this is a Subtle Evolution in the tide that does not evoke great emotion either way and is just not a horrible way to spend an hour and a half with PG13 family members? I have missed that Vibe in Streaming! - lee_eisenberg - 28 March 2023
Why do people have children anymore?
Iris K. Shim's "Umma" (the title means "mom" in Korean) was pretty much what I expected. Sandra Oh put on a strong performance in what was mostly a routine horror flick.
However, the movie made me wonder about families. People have children because they think that it sounds "nice", but that only escalates the anger and toxicity prevalent in the family (much like we see the hostility between Amanda and Chrissy). I have a feeling that, in addition to concerns about the future, one of the reasons why the millennials have resisted having children is because they don't want to pass on the intergenerational trauma.
Okay, that was tangential. The point is that this is a passable movie with outstanding performances, if nothing else. Between this, "Scream VI" and his supporting role on season 7 of "American Horror Story", I'd say that Dermot Mulroney should get considered a horror star. - HumbleMensa - 28 October 2022
Why I enjoyed it
So. This one is old school. Old school in the way that it builds up tension and curiosity about a looming, vague threat of danger and the unknown. While the story is nothing new, I felt the suspense, which in and of itself was a valuable as a watcher. It seems unrealistic, some of it, but it suits the plot. There is an innocence about this movie that reminds me of work from previous generations whereas some of the new flicks of this genre focus on so much fast-paced shock and slime and extreme horror that I quite prefer this sometimes. Sandra Oh is different in this role, unexpected, not necessarily an oscar winning character, but a believable one for the story. Fivel Stewart is finding her way but gives a pretty good performance. All in all, this felt like a late 1980's or early 1990's intensity style thriller, one which actually I quite miss sometimes because it does not go too far. - jmbovan-47-160173 - 31 August 2022
Quiet contemplative psychological horror
Umma displays the effect of intergenerational trauma with a supernatural dimension. The film maintains a beautiful presentation allowing for the characters to almost hide in their struggles. Pacing matches the quiet nature of the film, but this doesn't mean boring or slow. Instead, Umma peels back layers and allows for the discovery by the characters what is potential. The acting is top quality, and Sandra Oh and Fivel Stewart are excellent as mother and daughter, both restrained by the situation of the generation of their parents, and trying to maintain their connection while old memories often twist their thoughts and feelings. Immensely watchable and captivating. - chrismwolfe - 12 August 2022
Chill out Ma
Slightly above average horror flick, not much to say about this one. It was a little slow moving and could have done with a little more meat on its bones as far as story went. Enjoyed the look into Korean culture and ancestry. It was entertaining over all, slightly spooky and had some good performances by the cast. Would recommend, but nothing to go out of your way to view.
